Workaway Volunteers: Beware of Cults

My Cult-like Experience Through Volunteering Groups and What to Avoid

Jan 19, 2025

Would you take a free trip in exchange for a few weeks of volunteering?

If you answered yes, you probably heard of volunteer tourism. Platforms like WWOOF, Workaway, and Worldpackers attract prospective volunteers eager to lend their time and skills in exchange for a trip. Volunteers usually get free meals and accommodation in exchange for their work.

Picture: NOT A CULT - volunteering with a Nature Connectedness Organization in Denmark

Travel volunteer sites usually ask for an annual subscription fee. But if you're like me, you hate paying these. So, I find ways to keep expenses low. For work exchanges, I use Facebook groups.

Here's a hack:

Open Facebook and navigate to the Groups tab. Search for "volunteers + [country]" or "workaway volunteers + [area/region]."

This method helped me land two exchanges, and another was lined up for later this year.

Some Redditors threw shade on my approach when I posted about my cult-like experience on r/Workaway. Hosts pointed out that volunteers may avoid negative reviews by doing this, and I see their point.

But does that mean prospective volunteers should be left unaware?

Did a Cult Really Just Try to Recruit Me?

"Perfect," I said to myself as I hit enter on my post. I had decided to promote myself as a volunteer in a Facebook group for volunteers in Central America, and it only took a few weeks before opportunities started rolling in.

That's when "Sky" sent an interesting proposal: teaching English as a second language (ESL) in a low-income neighborhood in San José, Costa Rica.

I've been keen on teaching ESL. My freelance writing business wasn't going well, so learning how to set up an ESL business appealed to me.

Sky said he had a master's of education and had taught English for many years. We started messaging, and his friendliness and obvious intelligence instantly appealed to me. He was communicative and engaging.

We got into a fast conversation, bonding over our love of LATAM and the Spanish language. Soon, Sky sent pictures of the location, and I felt my excitement bubbling. His place was in a small compound on the outskirts of San José. Being a small-town girl myself, I love the tranquility of small neighborhoods.

But then he asked something odd. "What are your religious beliefs?"

This felt forward, but before I could respond, he followed up about his interest in religion and how it'd brought him around the world.

I felt akin. My love of history and culture has inspired my curiosity in the history of religion. I told Sky about my upbringing in a Christian household and my travels.

He seemed pleased but then abruptly said, "I simply cannot allow Atheists to participate."

Then it got weirder.

He asked if I knew of a church that could vouch for me as a religious volunteer to "fast track" residency to the country and allow me to stay and work longer.

I responded I didn't. "That's quite alright," he told me. "We have a pastor that could help."

I was starting to feel weird about this. Why was he pushing for residency when I didn't ask for it? Most work exchange programs don't intend for volunteers to stay in that country outside of the typical tourist visa.

And why was he asking personal questions about faith? Why was he talking excessively about his personal theology when I didn't ask or show much interest in the conversation?

But before I could question further, an incoming call distracted me.

When I hung up, l saw 17 missed messages from Sky. Lengthy ones!

In his novel, he detailed his religious theory and tells a long-winded story about how he was independently wealthy and came to Costa Rica as a teen to learn Spanish. He met a local man with a little money and watched him become a Scrooge to the people in his neighborhood. Taking advantage of them for his own financial gain.

But the man wasn't well-off enough to fund the project entirely. So Sky, a volunteer at that time, stepped up. He painted himself a true hero, funding a project aimed at helping drug addicts, homeless adults, and homeless teens. The only caveat was they shared a place of worship and ideology.

Maybe Sky was just a good guy with a cause.

But what he told me next stopped me in my tracks.

He said he would take a monthly fee of $350 to volunteer. Not only that, but I also needed to commit to one year of continual free labor for the religious organization.

Never before have I ever had to pay to volunteer – especially to a religious group.

These requests and his desire to use my skills to help vulnerable community members raised my eyebrows. Was this exploitative? Would I be in a position that could lead to entrapment and control?

I wrote back that I had zero interest in paying to volunteer and immediately blocked Sky.

Now, I have no proof Sky was recruiting for a cult. But I still felt frightened. He had my contact info and name. Would he come after me? I reported Sky to the group administrators and made a public post in the group warning others about my encounter.

Cult-like Red Flags from Sky's Cultural Exchange

Let me be clear: cults aren't explicitly using Workaway. Although others have shared questionable experiences via Workaway, this happens in a minority of scenarios. Trust your gut if you've received offers that seem suspicious or off. Report the account and warn others.

Here are some red flags volunteers should look out for:

🚩Engaging, Smooth-Talking Figurehead: Sky presented himself as a charismatic hero. He immediately showed interest and validated me throughout our discussion. In cults, leaders tend to have strong personalities and persuasive skills to gain trust and influence. They may shower new recruits with added attention and even love to attract and retain members.
🚩Ambiguity on Volunteer Roles: The initial project description was vague. Sky emphasized helping and contributing without clearly defining specific roles or responsibilities. He told me I could play to my strengths and create my role as I pleased. While I appreciate flexibility, I always question ambiguity in a job or role. This can sometimes lead to situations where my contributions are exploited or my skills aren't used in ways I hadn't agreed to.
🚩 Only "Believers" Allowed to Participate: The insistence on religious conformity is a major red flag. Religious sects may isolate members by demanding adherence to specific beliefs and stripping away individuality. Another off-putting characteristic is discouraging critical thinking. Saying atheists could not take part could be a way to filter out those who question religious beliefs and allow for secular thought.

There's a reason you don't get asked about your faith in a job interview – it's illegal.
🚩Possible Entrapment: Cults are known for isolating members by encouraging them to cut off contact with family and friends. This didn't happen to me, but I also didn't get as far as to actually make a work-trade agreement.

Yet, the isolated location, push to take temporary residency, and long-term commitment gave me the creeps. Heaven's Gate was infamous for moving its members to far-off locations where they were cut off from outside influences. The People's Temple (Jonestown Massacre) took it even further by moving its members to another continent entirely –completely trapping and controlling their members.
🚩Exploit Vulnerable People: Many fresh-faced grads looking to build up their resume with work experience look into Workaway after graduation. This program seemed exploitative for volunteers by using their free labor. But beyond that, Sky asked volunteers to pay rent to participate. If this happens to you, MAJOR RED FLAG! Paying to volunteer isn't volunteering.

At the same time, Sky's program is aimed at impoverished locals, potentially using them to further the organization's religious agenda.

Workaway Volunteer Best Practices:

If you or a loved one plan on doing a work exchange, there are some best practices to follow for everyone's mind and safety.

Thorough Research: Look into the host organization, business, and staff you will engage with. Check online reviews and testimonials if you're not on the paid exchange platforms. You could even contact people who've worked there before to get an idea of the work culture and vibe.

I jump on a video or phone call with my main point of contact for any new opportunity. This helps me get to know the person, see if our personalities jive, and let's ask important questions about amenities, location, what to do in emergencies, etc.
Ask Questions: Know your specific volunteer duties, who you'll work with, and the host's expectations. Ask about your living arrangements and locations to know if the stay will meet your standards. For instance, hostel volunteers usually share a room that's not offered to guests. Sometimes that room may be unpainted, not up to code, or it provides hostel volunteers with an added level of comfort and privacy.

But, if anything seems suspicious or unclear, ask about it. If something feels off, get a second opinion from someone you trust.
Protect Your Privacy: Be careful what you share online. Not just what you send in an email but what you say over the phone. Hosts shouldn't ask for financial information or personal details like your sexual orientation, race, or religion. That's your business. You and your host both deserve privacy and should set boundaries.

Some hosts will ask about ID or for references but only give these after making your work exchange agreement. It's a volunteer opportunity, so you should never have to give out your social insurance number (SIN) or credit details.
Don't Pay to Volunteer: Here's the biggie. Legitimate Workaway experiences don't ask for money. If they do, it could be a scam. Be wary of any requests for payment, especially if they ask you to send money to apply. I once lost $300 on a fake cruise ship application. Silly, stupid young self. 🙃
Let Friends and Family Know: Many Workawayers travel in pairs. But some choose to go alone. Either way, share your travel plans with friends and families so they know where you are and how to contact you. Most responsible hosts will ask about your emergency contact, but not all will. Keep in contact with your loved ones for their peace of mind and to feel connected while you're away
Have an Exit Plan:
Always have a backup plan. Book your tickets for transportation in advance, keep emergency numbers accessible, and look into alternative accommodation and transportation in case you have to leave suddenly.

Book a two-way ticket. This saves you some airfare and gives you a travel timeline. Many countries require an exit ticket upon entry anyway.

Some hosts will request a minimum time commitment, for instance, you may need to stay a minimum of one month to volunteer at a hostel. But say there's an emergency, something happens, or you find yourself in danger, you're not obligated to stay.

Are Cults Using Volunteer Platforms?

This brings me to my Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal experience and should not be considered an exhaustive guide to identifying and avoiding cults. I am in no way affiliated with Workaway or any volunteer platform. I enjoy travel and find work exchanges fulfilling.

Workaway can be an economic means of world travel. It opens doors to experiencing new cultures and making meaningful contributions. That said, remember to approach all new experiences with a critical mind. If it seems too good to be true – it probably is.

What was your oddest volunteer experience at home or abroad? Let me know in the comments!

Curious to hear more about my travel experiences and the lessons I've learned along the way? Subscribe to my newsletter for exclusive stories, travel advice, and insights you won't find anywhere else. Your subscription keeps me going. Safe travels!

Resources for Cultural Exchange Volunteers

List of Volunteer Platforms: https://www.fundsforngos.org/proposals/list-of-volunteer-platforms/

Abroad for Life with Steph Jouppien

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